Adding HKCU entries to registry for all users

[paulmit]

I am trying to package files and registry entries to support an application we have to roll out.

Advanced Installer is great but I need the HKCU entries I have to push out to be available for all users that log on to the PC.

I have read forum posts that suggest Advertised Shortcuts and Custom Actions but as I am not a professional developer I don't really know where to start with these.

Can someone advise the best way to do this?

[Cosmin]

Hi,

I'm not sure why you need this. Note that HKEY_CURRENT_USER is used only for the user that installs the application.

If you want your application to be available for multiple users then you can add your registry entries under HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE.

You can read more about the "Registry" page here:
http://www.advancedinstaller.com/user-g ... istry.html

Regards,
Cosmin

[paulmit]

Thanks for your reply, the location in the registry that the software looks at is out of our control, the supplier cannot (or will not!) change at the moment.

The package I am trying to build is a collection of various files and registry entries, most of which are in HKCU.

Making these available for every user that logs in would make life much easier!

[Cosmin]

Hi,

What you need can be done by using an advertised shortcut. Here are the steps:
- you add the files in the "Files and Folders" page and the registry entries in the "Registry" page
- in the "Install Parameters" page make sure that the "Installation Type" combo is set to "Per-machine if user is administrator, per-user otherwise"
- in the "Files and Folders" page create a shortcut to the main EXE of your application in the "Application Shortcut Folder" directory
- in the "Edit Shortcut Properties" dialog check the "Advertised Shortcut" option
- in the "Organization" page make sure that all the components are under the same feature

Now, when an user (other than the one that installed the application) uses the shortcut, the feature which contains it will be installed for him (the registry entries will be created under HKEY_CURRENT_USER).

You can read more about Shortcuts here:
http://www.advancedinstaller.com/user-g ... tcuts.html
Also, for more information about the "Organization" page look here:
http://www.advancedinstaller.com/user-g ... ation.html

Regards,
Cosmin